Gov't Support Cut for Class Trips to Cave of Machpelah

During the tenure of the previous Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Likud - Yisrael Beitenu), all Israeli schools were encouraged to take official class field trips to the Cave of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hevron. On Wednesday it was announced that current Education Minister Rabbi Shai Piron (Yesh Atid), decided to cancel support and encouragement for such tours. Channel 10 news reported that the minister has designed a new list of historical sites which the Ministry will fund for class trips.

The Cave of Machpelah is the traditional burial site of the Biblical Patriarchs and Matriarchs. The site is adorned by a huge fortress-like structure build by King Herod the Great during the time of the Second Temple era.